Walking cast protecting boot



Dec. 8, 1970 v. E. LAURIE 3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING'BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 19 9 s Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR Veldon E. LAURIE ymwz zy 4? PATENT AGENTS De.8,1910 V.E.LAUR|E3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 1969 f .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR Veldon E. LAURIE PA ,NT AGENTS 0 v. E. LAURIE 3,545,104

WALKING CAST PROTECTING BOOT Filed Feb. 10, 1969 I 3 Sheets-$heet .5

INVENTOR I Veldon E. LAURIE PAT T AGENTS United States Patent Int. 01.A431) 1/10 US. CI. 36-73 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Awaterproof boot for use with walking casts, the boot having a soleformed with a ground engaging region intermediate heel and toe portionsof the sole and an inner pad in the sole formed with a depression forreceiving a buffer of the walking cast.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to protectivecoverings for walking casts.

Casts made of plaster of paris or other materials are frequently usedfor restraining movement of a limb after resetting of a fracture in abone of the limb. Walking casts are distinguished from other casts bythe provision of a buffer embedded in or otherwise attached to thebottom of the foot portion of the cast so that the person wearing thecast can walk on the cast. The material from which the casts are made isusually water soluble and is liable to disintegration when exposed toexcessive moisture such as rain or snow. Furthermore, these casts arefairly expensive to replace and in wet weather the patient is obliged toremain indoors to avoid the damage to the cast.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved boot for use with walking casts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a boot for use withwalking casts which is impervious to moisture.

The invention provides as a new article of manufacture for use with awalking cast a waterproof boot having an upper and a sole, the solehaving heel and toe portions and a ground engaging portion locatedbetween said heel and toe portions. The ground engaging portion isspaced further from the upper than the heel and toe regions and isshaped to receive a buifer on a walking cast.

More particularly, the waterproof boot comprises a water-tight upperhaving an opening at the top thereof for receiving a cast and a solewater-tightly sealed to the upper. The sole comprises a lower layer ofwaterproof material defining toe, heel and ground engaging regions withthe ground engaging region located between and extending below the toeand heel region. The sole also cornprises an inner pad formed with adepression adjacent said ground engaging region for receiving a bulferand a walking cast inserted into the boot.

Preferably, the upper comprises an opposed pair of closure means eachclosure means comprising a pair of outer flaps and means for securingthe outer flaps together and an inner flap extending between and securedto the outer flaps.

An embodiment of the invention will be described by way of examplebelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1is a general view of a waterproof boot embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through the boot of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a sectionthrough the waterproof boot of FIG. 1 showing a walking cast locatedtherein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The boot 1 illustrated in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, comprises an upper 2 and a sole 3.

The sole 3 has a lower layer 4 of waterproof material. The sole 3comprises a heel portion 5, a toe portion 6, and an intermediate portion7. The intermediate portion 7 constitues the ground engaging region ofthe sole of the boot and is formed with a rib or other non-slipgenerally planar ground engaging surface 8. As will be seen from thefigures, the ground engaging surface 8 of the sole is located furtherfrom the upper 2 than the undersurfaces of the toe and heel portions ofthe sole so that in general use only the surface 8 contacts the ground.The sole also includes an inner pad 9 of fibrous material which isbonded to the layer 4. The inner pad 9 has a depression 10 adjacent toand above the ground engaging region 7 of the sole. As can be seen fromFIG. 3, the depression 10 is shaped to receive a buffer 11 of a walkingcast 12 when the cast is inserted into the boot.

In walking casts the buffer 11 is provided intermediate the sole and theheel to allow the possibility of walking on the cast. The buffer cannotbe placed in the normal position at the heel of the cast.

The upper 2 comprises rubberized fabric material which is sealed to thesole 3 around the periphery of the sole. The upper 2 has one opening forthe reception of the cast 12 at the top of the upper.

Closure means are provided at both the front and rear of the upper.

The front closure means comprises a pair of outer flaps 14 only one ofwhich is shown in the figures. The flaps 14 extend longitudinally downthe front face of the upper to the toe from the opening for reception ofthe cast. Secured to and extending between the flaps 14 is an inner flap15. In the embodiment illustrated, the front closure means incorporatesa plurality of hooks 13 for use with a strap and buckle system ofconventional type.

The rear closure means illustrated in the drawings comprises a pair ofouter flaps 16 extending longitudinally between the opening forreception of the cast and the heel of the upper. A sliding toothfastener 17 is secured to each of the opposed edges of the outer flaps16. An inner flap 18 is secured to and extends between the opposed edgesof the outer flaps 16.

It will be seen that the two closure means provide a substantiallywater-tight seal between the cast and the upper around the opening forreception of the cast but enable the cast to be easily removed from theboot. It is to be remembered in this context that there is no mobilityin the cast as there is in a leg and that the minimum amount of stressshould be imposed upon the material of the cast.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided a new form ofprotective covering for a cast which enables the wearer of thewaterproof boot provided to venture out into inclement weather and stillobtain adequate pr0tcction for the cast while achieving ambulation.

What I claim as my invention is:

What I claim as my invention is:

1. As a new article of manufacture for use with a walking cast, awaterproof boot having an upper and a sole, said sole having heel andtoe portions and a ground engaging portion located between said heel andtoe portions, the ground engaging portion being spaced further from theupper than the heel and toe regions and being shaped to receive a bufferon a walking cast.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said sole comprises an outer layer ofwaterproof material having an undersurface with a ground engagingsurface of generally planar form and the remainder of the undersurfacespaced from the ground engaging surface towards the upper.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said sole also comprises an inner padintegral with said layer, said pad having a depression therein forreceiving the buffer adjacent the ground engaging surface of the sole.

4. As a new article of manufacture for use with a walking cast, awaterproof boot comprising a water-tight upper having an opening at thetop thereof for inserting a cast and a sole water-tightly sealed to theupper, the sole comprising a lower layer of waterproof material definingtoe, heel and ground engaging regions with the ground engaging regionlocated between and extending below the toe and heel regions, the solealso comprising an inner pad formed with a depression adjacent saidground engaging region for receiving a buffer on a walking cast insertedinto said boot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,817,300 8/1931 Dorogi 36-4X2,956,561 10/1960 Houde a 128-835 3,280,485 10/ 1966' Arnold 36- 7.?

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 128--83.5

